Abstract

A male’s reproductive success primarily depends on the number of females he can inseminate. Multiple mating are common in
males but the reproductive potential of a male is much less well understood, probably because measurements of the reproductive
success of males in their entire lifespan are extremely uncommon compared to females. In the present study, therefore, we tested
male lifetime multiple mating potential and reproductive output in Spodoptera litura. Results showed that males that had access to a
new virgin female daily for their lifespan mated up to 8 times successfully (produced viable offspring) with the mean number of matings
being 6.25 (± 0.23). Mating duration increased significantly with the increase of male mating experience. Analysis showed that
male copulation history had significant effect on female fecundity and fertility. However, this effect was found only in the last mating.
Therefore, the effect of male mating history on female fecundity and fertility is limited or minor in this insect. On average, a male in
his lifetime fertilized 8380 (± 571) eggs.